Gene Frenette: Grading the Jaguars' 2011 draft

Gene Frenette

Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette assigns grades to each of the Jaguars’ draft picks, plus an overall grade, based on the quality of the player taken and how well it fit the team’s most pressing needs.

First round: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

Grade: B

It’s hard to question the value because Gabbert was projected to be gone by almost everyone within the top six or eight picks. Still, the Jaguars essentially forfeited any attempt to help their defense by also giving up a second-round pick with the No. 10 pick. That’s the huge risk here. It’s astounding that seven teams with bigger quarterback needs than Jacksonville passed on Gabbert. This might go down as the biggest roll of the dice in the career of Jaguars GM Gene Smith.

Third round: Will Rackley, G, Lehigh

Grade: B-minus

This is one of those non-sexy picks in which the Jaguars definitely stuck to their board. Rackley’s value had to be considerably higher than whomever they had as the best available pass-rusher, linebacker or safety, where the need was much greater. At the very least, Rackley must be a starter by 2012 to justify the pick. It’s obvious Smith never wants to be caught short-handed in the offensive line, as the Jaguars were in 2008.

Fourth round: Cecil Shorts, WR, Mount Union

Grade: B-minus

I know Shorts had 63 career touchdown catches, but NFL secondaries are a huge leap from Division III. Taken where he was, Shorts has to be consistently in the three-receiver mix for this pick to pan out. Shorts’ bubbly, outgoing personality should be a huge hit. If this works out as well for the Jaguars as Mount Union alumnus Pierre Garcon worked out for the Indianapolis Colts, this grade jumps up considerably.

Fourth round: Chris Prosinski, FS, Wyoming

Grade: C-plus

The Jaguars finally get around to addressing a huge need. They’d better hope undersized safety Ahmad Black of Florida, who went to Tampa Bay in the fifth round, doesn’t have a more productive career than Prosinski. It’s also interesting that the Jaguars passed up the draft’s biggest safety, West Virginia’s Robert Sands, a strong indication they might have more faith in strong safety Courtney Greene’s upside than free safety Don Carey.

Fifth round: Rod Issac, CB, Middle Tennessee State

Grade: C

The Jaguars seem convinced that Issac can come in and likely take the nickel back job away from William Middleton. If Issac gets on the field for more than special teams, then this won’t look like so much of a reach. The Jaguars’ evaluation of Issac’s value is much different than a lot of draft analysts, which is what makes scouting so fascinating.

Overview

Grade: B-minus

What makes this draft harder to judge than any other in Jaguars’ history is we don’t know what will happen in free agency, where it appears the team will have to sign at least three players capable of earning a starting job on defense. If that happens, then the Jaguars’ haul looks better from the standpoint of filling needs. Obviously, this draft will ultimately be remembered for how Gabbert turns out. The Jaguars need him to have a career equal to or better than Mark Brunell, not be another Byron Leftwich.

A rookie QB or a veteran we HOPE will be professional. Throwing to mediocre (at best) WR's on 3rd and long because the head coach thinks it's a sin to throw on first down. Handing off to an undersized - but talented - RB who is starting to break down because he doesn't avoid contact. No pass rush. No pass defense. And a brutal schedule.

But there's free agency to look forward to. Nevermind that the last time the Jaguars signed a free agent that made a pro bowl Bill Clinton was POTUS.

Does Gene Smith work for the Jaguars or is he a personal assistant for Peyton Manning?

bottom line if Gabbert comes up BIG no one will even remember who else was taken in this draft...Who were the other players the Colts picked the year they got Manning ??...Who did the Falcons pick when the got Matt Ryan ?? Who else did the Steelers pick the year they got Big Ben ?? ooops..bad example..the Steelers GET IT and dont try to look smarter than everybody else...with REACH..after REACH...after REACH !! GO STEELERS !!

How can you grade any draft until 3-4 years down the road. Ryan Leaf was considered an A+ draft pick. Look how that turned out. I trust Gene and where the team is moving towards. We are building to be a long term division power with a strong nucleus of players that will be replenished through drafting and sparce free agency replacements. Go Jags, Go Gene, Go JDR.

i dont see why so many people are criticizing the Jags not drafting more heavily on defense. I think we had a good draft and needs were addressed. We needed a QB of the future, we need some youth on the O-line, we needed a WR, etc. I think we got great value in the guys we picked up. Also, there is no guarantee that the players you pick up in the draft automatically make that position better - as Gene Smith has said, the Jags will be aggressive in free agency! Our D-line is getting players back from injury and is much improved from 2009 to 2010 with another year of experience. LB's and DB's will be addressed in the free agency - very excited to see who we pick up.